OVER THE 
RHINE 


r n 


AN EXPOSE OF THE KAISER’S 
SPY SYSTEM 


by 

FRED. J. BALSHOFER, 

in collaboration with 

CHARLES A. TAYLOR 



Copyrighted 1918 



























































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OVER THE RHINE 


The World's Greatest 
Spy Story 


Written by 

FRED. J. BALSHOFER and CHAS. A. TAYLOR 

M * 

A thrilling story of an American College boy, who in the disguise of a beautiful 
woman wormed his way to the heart of the Kaiser’s court and with a cunning 
that matched American brains and skill against German Kultur and intrigue, 
sprung the fatal trap that blotted from existence the Kaiser’s master spy. 


92 


Copyrighted Aug. 1918 
by 

FRED. J. BALSHOFER 
All rights reserved 


NEW YORK 


HARPOON PUBLISHING CO., Inc. 
Publishers 

220 WEST 42nd ST. 


V. 




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MIG -8 1918 


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CHAPTER I. 


A strong, cool, steady breeze swept in from the Atlantic, across 
New York harbor and on up the broad Hudson, where numerous 
palatial steam yachts lay tugging at anchor chains, safe in the purple 
shadows of the Majestic Palisades. 

With the vigor of a viking this cool, inspiring breeze, born from 
the freedom of the seas, caught and whipped into life the big silk 
American flag that crowned the dome of the highest building of 
greater New York. Old Glory, kissed by the last lingering rays of 
the setting sun, snapping defiance from its great height above the 
crowded city streets, was a soul-inspiring sight to the thousands hur- 
rying ant-like creatures that chanced to gaze up at it; but with the 
thrill it inspired came a deep pain in the heart, a pain born of sorrow 
and resentment. This emblem of freedom, whipping its silken folds 
out at half mast, was the mute tribute of a Nation’s sorrow, to the 
dead of the torpedoed Lusitania; innocent victims of Prussia’s ruth- 
less warfare, that now for the first time had struck at the very vitals 
of American democracy. 

Above the tall skyscrapers of the richest city of the world today 
the breeze passed on and on, up the bosom of the broad Hudson and 
swept over the green lawns and stole under the awnings of the wide 
porch at Maplecourt, the beautiful estate of the late Major General 
Perry, U. S. A., where, reclining in a porch chair, his frail little widow 
was patiently awaiting the evening mail. There was a pathetic longing 
in the soft brown eyes of this petite beautiful woman, a sad loneliness 
in the slight drooping figure that remained so quiet and still, while 
the cool breeze that had stolen under the awning kissed her white 
brow and lingered to toy with the soft girlish curls that still crowned 
her head with the glory of youth. It was a comforting breeze, for 
into the shell-like ear of this grand Southern lady it seemed to whisper 
a hope, the breath of her first born from over the seas had out-rode 
the census on that strong breeze from the East. It kindled fresh 
hope in her heart as she waited, patiently, waited as many nights 
she had waited for that letter that never came. 

At this very moment could we turn back, face that breeze, rise 
on it with giant wings and cross the ocean with the speed of an 
American warplane driven by the Liberty motor of today, we would 
soon hover over the object of this American mother’s thought. 

Caught within the iron ring of Prussianism with many other 
thousands of Americans was this noble woman’s only son, Elmer 
Perry, last of the fighting Perrys. 

Just previous to the time that shot of a mad assassin was fired 
across the Danube, that shot which was destined to plunge the entire 
civilized world into the greatest catastrophe ever recorded in history, 
this stalwart youth, hero of our story, then a care-free college boy 
in America, had been sent to Heidelberg to complete his education. 
On this same evening at the very moment in the twilight that a mail- 
carrier paused before the waiting mother at Maplecourt with a sad 
shake of the head, her son in Germany was telling Henry von Bohn, 
his chum and former class mate at Heidelberg, all about this won- 
derful little mother and his beautiful home in America. The boys 


— 3 — 


were seated alone in Elmer’s den in his picturesque little home near 
Berlin. They were both very serious, the threatened breach between 
Germany and America had drawn them more closely together than 
ever, for Henry’s mother was an American woman, and though his 
father was an officer in the Kaiser’s army and Henry wore the uniform 
of aide to General Blutcher, one of the Kaiser’s arm chair generals, 
Henry, in his secret heart, loved America, where he had been born 
and raised. This he told Elmer in a burst of confidence born of sym- 
pathy for his pal after Elmer had laid bare his heart hunger for home 
and mother and for the little sweetheart he had left behind. 

Elmer was a most impressive talker, a born actor, and as he 
drew on Henry’s imagination with word pictures of his last days 
at Maplecourt he paused now and then to write a cheering line or 
sentence in his letter to mother, a letter he was always writing but 
could never get by the censor. 

“You’re too red blooded for the wise old Hun,” Henry told 
him. Then Elmer switched the conversation to sweethearts, talking 
of Irene Hale again, as boys will do about girls they love. 

“Irene is the most sensible girl, for a real out and out good-looker 
you ever met in all your life,” he told Henry. 

“She saw this blame thing coming.” 

“The day before I left home Irene gave me a small silk American 
flag, she said it would keep my heart true.” 

“It happened like this, the gang from Harvard had come up to 
give me a rally in the old town, a sort of a long lingering liquid 
good-bye. They hired a motor bus and followed by touring car 
home to Maplecourt, tooting horns and raising old Ned.” 

“Mother came out on the porch proud as she could be and stood 
with her arms about me as I waved good-bye to my pals and to 
college days and the boys rode away with a parting blast from 
their horns that woke old September Morn, my Irish setter. Sep 
saw me and threatened to burst his chain, this started the whole 
kennel, the dogs hadn’t seen me since the fall hunt, and say, when 
I signalled the keeper and he slipped them loose, they made for 
me in a bunch; they all but upset mother, and it was just then 
while I was trying to quiet them that Irene rolled up in her car, 
her brother Bill was with her. Bill’s a sort of aide in the Secret 
Service over there, a quiet chap, something like you, Henry, — only 
different.” 

“Well, out jumps Irene, her eyes fairly dancing with delight to 
see me home again, poor kid! I knew I must tell her right there 
and then that I had decided to finish up at Heidelberg and be a 
Kultured wise-brow, if I didn’t break it to her right then, I knew 
I never would, so we left Bill to console Mother and sorter drifted 
down around the South wing that overlooks the Hudson, and she 
held mighty tight to my hand while I sat on the balcony rail and was 
telling her it might be two and it might be three years before 
we would see each other again.” 

“There was something I wanted to say, you know how it is 
Henry, but somehow I forgot composition, grammar, elocution and 
everything I had ever studied, all with the exception of astronomy 
and I went to studying stars right there, two of the brightest stars 
you ever saw, her eyes bo! and they were filled with tears, tears for 
love of me and I'd hardly shaved yet.” 


“Well, as I was saying, I had just promised her there would 
be something doing of importance to us both on my return when 
she pulled the flag stuff, a little silk affair and gave it to me saying: 
‘You’re going to a military nation, a nation ruled by brute force; 
don’t forget this is your country and your flag.’ It was a mighty 

pretty speech for a girl like her and the flag was wet from her 

tears and when she told me it would keep my heart true, I kissed 
it, big fool; it’s the girl I should have kissed but I didn’t, and I have 
that flag yet and I have kissed it many times since then for it seems 
to bring her nearer and dearer to me.” 

Elmer suddenly paused in his story, there was a lump in his 
throat, he arose and went to where his coat hung from the hilt of 
a dueling foil on the wall from the inside pocket of his coat he 
slowly drew a small silk American flag neatly folded; he spread 
it out carefully with loving hands upon his mother’s letter, Henry 
moved closer and placed his arm about Elmer’s shoulder, as of one 

mind they both saluted the tiny flag. They stood thus for some 

moments in silence. To Elmer, this silken token of love seemed to 
breathe of life and through the stars and stripes the smiling face 
of Irene Hale looked up at him, her lips moving in a prayer of 
hope. Slowly the vision faded and the realization of the truth that 
he was interned, virtually a prisoner here in Germany, came 
upon him in full force. He had but one friend he could count 
on to aid him in getting away, that was Henry, poor Henry who 
himself was a slave of the Kaiser. He went back to his letter in 
feverish haste he must tell mother all, thoughtless boy! 

Henry warned Elmer as he wrote, for he, Henry, was well 
schooled in the rigid discipline that bottled up all information that 
might injure the Kaiser’s interest abroad. 


CHAPTER II. 

We will leave Elmer for the time being to the care of his loyal 
friend Von Bohn and introduce a character that is to figure very 
prominently in our story, Madam Storch, the woman now recorded 
in history as the Kaiser’s master spy. 

In the mad fast whirl of gay New York during the early 
period of strained relationship between Germany and America there 
were many women distinguished for their beauty, their conquests 
among men of influence and high standing and their lavish expen- 
diture of money. No one in particular seemed to know where they 
came from or why the horn of plenty showered them with money, 
jewels, gowns and all that women of that class hold most dear. 
They were always in the company of one of the other of the Who 
Is Who, that go to make up the Bohemian group of New York’s 
none too critical Snappy Set. 

The mysterious and beautiful Madam Storch was not of this 
class. She was far above them in mentality, with aims more subtle, 
she moved in an orbit outside their own, her ambitions in many 
ways as lofty as those of the master who with his millions aided 
her intrigues and whom she served with slave-like devotion and 
loyalty. 


— 5 — 


With the history of this woman, which has lately been published 
in the Sunday’s issues of Hearst’s New York American, we have 
only to do with those broken threads that this romance now weaves 
for the first time into the network of intrigue in which she was 
involved. From the harem of the Turk, like the geni of the lamp, 
she materialized in the Court of a foreign king, as a Russian 
countess. Diplomats and royalty alike payed tribute to her charming 
personality. Under the spell of her beautiful eyes all men were her 
willing dupes. To the Kaiser she was invincible, this frail plaything 
of the harem, his strongest ally. 

Little is known of her first visit to New York. We find her 
at the opening of our story safely installed in a superb apartment 
on Riverside Drive. 

She first obtained notice by appearing publicly at a select social 
gathering in company with Captain Francis Cosgrove, U. S. A., 
where she was introduced by him as the wife of his friend, a 'Russian 
officer. From that night on there was seldom a day passed that 
the handsome young captain did not find some opportunity to while 
away an hour in the society of this captivating woman. 

Her boudiour in the Riverside home was furnished to suit her 
exquisite but extravagant taste. Here reclining on an Oriental 
couch she received Captain Cosgrove for the first time in the 
privacy of her own home with tantalizing indifference, her French 
maid Lucille was always in evidence. 

“Why must you leave me for General Nester?” she inquired. 

“Am I not more interesting than those gruff old dogs of war?” 

Cosgrove paced the room with military firmness of purpose 
as he told of his appointment with the General, vainly he tried to 
shake off the lure of her wonderful eyes, which followed him always 
followed him no matter where he went. 

He refused the wine she offered him, but when with seductive 
smile she drained the glass herself, keeping her eys upon his own in 
saucy defiance, he braved her displeasure by bending down to kiss 
her lips. Shyly she drew back, well she knew her power, but the 
game was young. 

“As we do in gay Paree, my hand, Monsieur,” she said, offer- 
ing him her slim white hand. 

Cosgrove raised her soft hand to his lips, she responding with 
a slight pressure that thrilled him, then a glance that he caught of 
the jeweled wrist watch she wore roused him to the sense of duty, 
it was long past the hour of his appointment with General Nester. 
With almost rude abruptness, he excused himself and hastened out 
to his car. 

As he left Madam Storch arose and crossed to the French 
window that overlooked the drive. 

Cosgrove looked back as the car shot forward, she knew he 
would, a winning smile lighted her face as she kissed her hand to 
him; then as the car was lost to view, the smile changed and the 
cunning of the tigress stole into every feature of her face, she 
slammed the blinds closed as if eager to shut out God’s bright 
sunlight and retired to her phone where she called up a private 
number. She was about to talk with the man— the mysterious man— 
the man with the Kaiser’s millions. 


— 6 * 


CHAPTER III. 


The man who directly paid Madam Storch the many millions of 
dollars of the Kaiser’s money that she squandered so lavishly was 
seldom seen in her presence, his identity has never been thoroughly 
established. Our Government Secret Service could never obtain 
evidence enough against him to cause his arrest. After Madam 
Storch’s arrest this man disappeared, and up to the present writing 
has eluded justice. A description of the man tallies with that of 
Bola Pasha. 

For the want of a better name and lacking proofs that this 
man was not the great Paris editor who later so basely betrayed 
his country, we will now call this man with the Kaiser’s millions that 
we are about to introduce, “Bola Pasha.” 

As Madam Storch calls him to the ’phone, we discover him 
in the privacy of his magnificent apartments in a Broadway hotel. 

He listened at the ’phone with interest as Madam Storch told 
him of the Captain’s visit. No names were mentioned, they were 
both too cunning at the dangerous game they were playing. 

Madam was in need of more money, she always was when she 
insisted upon seeing him. He gave her but one reply, “The flower 
peddler will tell you.” 

Madam Storch undoubtedly understood his meaning for she 
smiled with satisfaction as she hung up the receiver and called 
her maid. 

As Lucille prepared her mistress for her daily ride in the 
Park, we will follow Captain Cosgrove to his appointment with 
General Nester. The gallant young Captain was profuse in his 
apologizes to the dignified old General, but not one word did he 
say about the charming creature that had caused his delay. He 
listened eagerly as General Nester told him about the rapid growth 
of the German spy system in this country. 

His suspicions that Madam Storch could in any way be in- 
volved in this base conspiracy had never been aroused, he entered 
into General Nester’s plans to round up all aliens with the earnest 
zeal of true patriotism. This same bright morning on a busy 
street corner a foreign looking man in neat attire was peddling 
flowers. There was nothing about this man to attract attention, or 
to distinguish him from numerous other venders in the vicinity 
unless a close observer chance to note his eyes, they fairly leaped 
with intelligence, they searched through the busy traffic of the 
highway with the keeness of a ferret. 

A very beautiful young girl paused to make a purchase of this 
vender, she finally selected a bunch of sweetpeas, with an almost 
imperceptible start the flower peddler took them away from her, not 
rudely but with profuse apologizes, and finally persuaded her to 
take a different bunch that he convinced her was more beautiful. 
As the young girl was paying him the young peddler suddenly 
caught sight of Madam Storch’s car. 

At the same moment, Madam Storch evidently saw the peddler 
for she caught up the speaking tube and through it breathed hur- 
ried directions to her liveried chauffeur, who brought the car close 
to the curb, stopping close to where the peddler was standing. 




Madam Storch signalled the peddler that she wished to make 
a purchase. The chauffeur alighted and opened the door of the 
limousine and the peddler hat in hand exhibited his wares. 

My lady finally selected, was it by chance? the identical bunch 
of sweetpeas that the peddler a moment ago had withheld from 
his former customer. 

Madam Storch seemed very pleased with her purchase. With 
gracious condescension she handed the peddler a banknote and 
ordered her chauffeur to drive on without waiting for the change. 
By the hurried satisfied manner in which the peddler transferred 
the bill to his pocket and continued to lift his hat long after the 
car had continued to pass on down the street, one may judge that 
the bill was of large denomination. 

Madam Storch lost no time in breaking open the bunch of 
sweetpeas upon her lap. It contained a neatly folded paper that 
bore a code message, she slowly tore it into tiny bits and where 
a less cautious woman may have thrown those bits from the car 
window, this cunning adventuress deposited them discreetly within 
the sterling silver ash tray, that was one of the luxurious appoint- 
ments of her car. 

She again whispered hurried directions through the tube to her 
chauffeur. The car sped on out Fifth Avenue and through the 
Park. 

A distinguished gentleman in faultless dress was strolling 
leisurely along one of the many paths that bordered the drive, this 
is the same gentleman that we saw a short while ago in ’phone 
communication with Madam Storch. As he caught sight of Madam 
Storch’s car rapidly approaching toward him down the drive, he 
raised his hat and the car rolled into the curb and stopped. Only 
one short second did it pause and as it sped off at a pace that 
threatened to break the speed limit the dignified gentleman was 
safely installed inside, lolling back among the cushions with an 
affectionate grip on Madam Storch’s hand. She was telling him in 
detail about Captain Cosgrove’s last visit. She told him how the 
gallant captain had kissed her hand. 

Pasha laughed with satisfaction as he puffed on one of Madam’s 
cigarettes. 

Slowly Madam Storch extended her white hand loaded down 
with costly gems, again the fierce look of the tigress stole into her 
face. “Some day I will make him eat out of my hand,” she said. 

Again Bola Pasha laughed, an amused but heartless laugh; he 
had seen Madam’s French poodle do the self same thing. 

Then Madam Storch nestled down close beside him and began 
to whisper in his ear. 

Captain Cosgrove would answer her purpose for a while, but 
there were men higher up that she must meet, Bola Pasha generally 
found a way for her to meet them, and once under the influence 
of her wiles, she found it an easy matter to gain the knowledge 
so important to the Kaiser. 

At a lonely spot on the upper drive, the car suddenly stopped, 
Bola Pasha alighted and the car sped off again. 


— 8 — 


CHAPTER IV. 


These were busy days for Ambassador Girard in Berlin. The 
American Council was daily besieged by excited groups of Amer- 
icans, clamoring for passports and seeking redress from insults and 
more serious acts of German brutality. 

At one of the secluded resorts at the seashore lived an American 
family by the name of Haswell. They had been friends of Elmer’s 
mother in America and upon learning of his dire distress in Berlin 
they invited him to visit them. Elmer gladly accepted the invitation 
and decided to take his friend Von Bohn with him. They motored 
out from Berlin. 

On this same day the German Secret Service by orders of the 
Kaiser had instituted a wholesale search of all interned Americans 
for any incriminating evidence that they may chance to find upon 
their persons or among their effects. 

When Elmer and Von Bohn arrived at the home of the Has- 
wells they found it in a scene of wild disorder. Two burly brutal 
Secret Service officers were ransacking the house, trunks sat about 
opened with their contents strewed about the floor, all papers of 
every description were bring burned in the huge fire-place, regard- 
less of their importance to the owner, the mother crouched on the 
floor upon her knees in the corner, her arms thrown protectingly 
about her youngest child. One of the brutal officers had stumbled 
over the helpless child as he played with his toys. He had seized 

the child roughly by one arm, dragged him to his feet and tossed 

him clear across the room upon a couch, where the mother had 
rescued him like an enraged animal at bay. The older sister, a 
beautiful girl of eighteen was boldly facing the officers and de- 
nouncing them as cowardly brutes with the spirit of true American 
courage and patriotism. 

It was just at this juncture that Elmer followed by Henry 

entered the room, taking in the situation at a glance he shoved 

the two officers who were threatening the girl with violence back 
into the corner of the room, and advancing upon them in a threaten- 
ing manner he demanded an explanation of their brutal conduct. 
“It is the Kaiser’s orders,’’ said the senior officer, “we are only 

doing our duty.’’ After hearing the mother and sister’s account 

of the outrage, Elmer again turned threateningly upon the officers 
and ordered them from the house, heedless of the warning glance 

from Henry, who he had entirely forgotten in his excitement, and 

as yet had not introduced to his host. The Secret Service men 
scoffed at his interference and threatened him with arrest. 

“You are one more of those meddling Americans,’’ they said. 

“Have a care,” said Elmer, “or you will have a bigger man than 
I am to answer to, a much bigger man than your blooming Kaiser, 
our President Woodrow Wilson.” 

With a scoffing laugh the senior officer drew himself to his 
full height. 


— 9 — 


“The Kaiser’s the biggest man in the world to-day,” he shouted 
in defiance. 

Elmer’s American blood was fired and he started to peel off 
his coat. 

“The Kaiser will look like a dirty duce to-morrow and so will 
you,” he said. With this Elmer started to rough it. Henry at once 
interfered and seizing Elmer with a firm hold, he drew him strug- 
gling back into the recess of the hallway, where he attempted to 
reason with him. 

“Keep your head,” he whispered, “you wouldn’t have a chance 
for your life, if arrested.” Elmer caught the pleading look in the 
eyes of the American girl and her mother. He instantly realized 
he had gone a step too far and he remained passive while Henry 
addressed the Kaiser’s officers. 

“This man is my personal friend,” he said. “I will be responsible 
for him.” 

“Your duty does not compell you to insult these foreigners 
whom you have orders to search.” 

“Go about your duty in less aggressive manner, or I will take 
the matter up at headquarters myself.” 

Henry’s bluff made good. The officers saluted him and turned 
back to their work, while Elmer and Henry after a hasty con- 
sultation with the Haswells made a hasty departure, Elmer promising 
to report the matter to Ambassador Girard. They entered their car 
and sped back to Berlin. 

In America the grip of the spy system slowly tightened. It was 
almost of daily occurrence to read of some munition plant that 
had been destroyed either by fire or explosion in widely different 
sections of the country. The American Secret Service had been 
speeded up and General Nester’s office was a beehive of activity. 
On this very morning, General Nester was seated at his desk in 
consultation with Captain Cosgrove, and Irene’s brother Bill Hale. 
The door was suddenly thrown open and an Aid-de-Camp, followed 
by an excited crowd of government officials, entered with the report 
of the destruction of one of the Du Pont Powder plants. There 
had been a great loss of life. General Nester at once issued orders 
that the military troops be called out and a strict guard thrown 
around the plant which was still burning. Young Hale was com- 
missioned to search the aliens in the neighborhood of the plant, all 
was a scene of wild excitement and American hustle. Cosgrove’s 
first thought was for the safety of his lady-love, he must find time 
to visit her this very day and assure her that every means would 
be taken by the Government to blot out all agents of the Kaiser’s 
that the Secret Service succeeded in rounding up. 

By the time that Elmer and Von Bohn reached Elmer’s house 
they had caught a glimpse of many scenes of disorder that aroused 
them to the danger of all Americans, who still remained interned 
within the Kaiser’s iron ring. Safe in the privacy of Elmer’s home, 
Von Bohn at once confided his worst fears to Elmer. 


— 10 — 


“I am compelled against my free will to wear this uniform 
which I despise. If I desert, they will shoot me. My heart is 
loyal to the land of my birth, if I must die I am going to do some- 
thing really worth while before they get me.” 

“Any communication that you wish to make to your Govern- 
ment or your mother, I will endeavor to get through the lines.” 

“I must leave now to make my report to General Blutcher.” 

I will enert every influence at my command in behalf of yourself 
and your friends, the Haswells.” 

Henry took his leave and Elmer heartsore and weary started 
for the hundredth time to write his mother demanding an explana- 
tion of her silence and telling her of the unbearable conditions in 
Berlin. 

On Henry’s trip to headquarters his way was blocked by a 
riot in the street. An American family were being dispossessed. 
Two low-browed ruffians were insulting two helpless American 
girls in the street, while the police looked on with utter indifference. 

No wonder the breach was broken. Then came the President’s 
final message and the City of New York was in tumult of excite- 
ment. 

On the Riverside Drive, in the home of a Madam Storch all was 
in order, no signs of hurried departure could be detected, Madam 
Storch in the privacy of her own boudoir was playing with her 
French poodle, who when alone, she called Bismark, compelling 
him to sit up in military fashion with a tiny German helmet upon 
his head. The maid handed her the evening paper, across the 
front page in big black type was the account of the terrible loss 
of life caused by the explosion at the Du Pont Powder Works. 
She read it with a calm indifference and then passed it over to 
Bola Pasha, who reclining in a big arm chair, a cigar between his 
teeth, was partly asleep. Pasha roused himself and read the article. 
Neither one of the conspirators spoke a word, but their faces were 
a study of criminology. Their efforts had born fruit. Later that 
evening Cosgrove paid a hurried visit to Madam Storch and told 
her of the day's developments in military activities. 

“We will have a half million men in France before snow flies,” 
he said, but when Madam Storch led him on and asked him what 
the Government meant to do regarding ships to transport 
them, he suddenly remembered his oath and switched the conversa- 
tion. Madam Storch plainly read what was passing in his mind 
and she discreetly withheld her desire to learn more at the present 
interview and contented herself in making desperate love to her 
unsuspecting dupe. 

After Cosgrove had retired, she called the French poodle and 
fondled him in much the same manner in which she had caressed 
the gallant Captain. 

“I'll get him yet,” she said to Bismark. 

In Germany, the Kaiser had sent for the Crown Prince. They 
were closeted together over President Wilson’s last message. 


— 11 — 


“They’re cowards,” scoffed the Kaiser. “The damn Yankees dare 
not fight.” Could they at this moment have seen the long lines of 
khaki clad American boys, as they marched triumphantly down Fifth 
Avenue among the human wall of cheering multitudes, they would 
not have been so hasty in expressing their opinion of true Yankee 
courage. 

Transports were now daily leaving American shores laden down 
with munitions of war supplies for the Allies and thousands of 
trained troops. This was America’s answer to the Kaiser’s bluff. 

Bill Hale had visited Elmer’s mother in company with his sister 
and warned her even before the blow fell, but as yet she had re- 
ceived no word from her son across the sea. 

It was late one evening, a few days after Henry’s last visit 
to Elmer, when he again returned in a car with a military chauffeur, 
bursting in upon Elmer, who was about to retire, he told him of 
plans that he had overheard. There had been an order issued for 
Elmer’s arrest. He had come post haste to warn him there was 
not a moment to lose. Elmer must make his escape at once. Von 
Bohn was there to aid him. Elmer, keen to the sense of his danger, 
at once devised means how this could be brought about. Fortunately 
in his trunk was the dress and wig, the complete female costume, 
with which he had scored such a triumph in the college theatricals 
in America, where he had made his debut as a female impersonator. 
He showed Henry the gown and wig. Henry instantly approved, 
but it must be a quick change, as the Secret Service men were on 
their way to arrest him. As the boys talked and Elmer prepared 
to don the disguise the same two Secret Service officers that had 
searched the Haswell home rolled up to the door in a military car 
in company with several others. They quickly surrounded the 
house, while the senior officer applied for admission at the door. 
Henry barred their entrance as long as he dared to, while Elmer 
struggled heroically with the details of his make-up. Elmer was 
in a room that opened off of his den. The Secret Service men 
were threatening to break down the door so Henry admitted them. 
He told them they had come too late that Perry had escaped. 
The officers broke into the room adjoining to convince themselves 
and stood paralyzed with astonishment on beholding instead of 
the stalwart youth that they were after, a most beautiful woman, 
who greeted them with the graces of a Dutchess. Speechless with 
astonishment, they listened to Henry’s bluff that this lady was his 
prisoner, that if they remained to watch the house they would be 
able to catch young Perry on his return. Elmer entered into the 
spirit of the game and allowed Henry to escort him out to the car 
where they were followed by the two officers. Henry assisted 
Elmer to a seat behind the stern military driver at the wheel and 
took his seat beside him. 

“To headquarters,” he told the driver. 

There was a questioning glance from Elmer, a nudge in his 
ribs from Henry, and an exchange of dignified salutes all around 
and the car sped away, leaving the two Secret Service men guarding 
the vacant quarters. Henry cautioned Elmer that they must beware 
of the driver, they could only converse in whispers. The thought 


—12 — 


came to Elmer, as he rode along, that this chance adventure might 
really give him the opportunity to be of real service to his country. 
He was in a desperate plight and his mind worked rapidly. They 
were in the outskirts of the city and as the car reached a secluded 
spot, and was about to cross a little rustic bridge, Elmer suddenly 
pulled an automatic from under the folds of his gown and pointed 
it at the head of the driver commanding him to stop. Th© ferocious 
looking Hun, after turning his head and glancing into the eyes of 
this beautiful woman with a bass voice who was now pressing the 
cold muzzle of her gun into his cheek lost no time in obeying 
orders. As the car stopped, Elmer alighted still pointing the gun 
at the driver. He commanded him to throw up his hands. Shout- 
ing Kamerad, the Hun threw up his hands and leaped from the car, 
tripped and fell and rolled down the embankment into a pool of 
stagnant water below. Before he could pull himself out, Elmer 
had leaped into his place behind the wheel, started the car, and 
before the dripping Hun had reached the roadway, the car was 
lost in a cloud of dust in the distance. As the car sped along, 
Henry complimented Elmer on his quick wit and daring, but warned 
him that his impulsive action would surely involve them in serious 
complications. He quickly decided that the best move now to make 
was to get Henry to the home of his mother, where he knew he 
would receive protection for the time being. They changed places 
and Henry turned the big touring car to the left, and soon leaving 
the suburbs of Berlin behind them they headed for Henry’s beautiful 
home in the country. 

The Secret Service men who were left to guard Elmer’s home, 
after foolishly sitting about half the night waiting for Elmer’s 
return, finally decided that Von Bohn had played them a dirty 
trick. They decided to return to headquarters and make their 
report. Late as was the hour when Henry and Elmer reached 
the home of his mother, he found that she was still up. Mother and 
daughter, Elmer’s sister, a beautiful young girl about Elmer’s own 
age were alone in the house. They had met Elmer several times 
in the company of Henry, upon their visits to Berlin and Henry 
decided to test Elmer’s disguise and his art as an actor, by with- 
holding his true identity. As Henry escorted Elmer into the pres- 
ence of his mother and sister, he introduced her as a Miss Miller, 
an American girl in distress, who he had befriended and brought 
home. Knowing his mother’s kind heart, and that she would gladly 
befriend one of her own country women. Both mother and daughter 
welcomed Elmer with quiet reserve. They remarked the lateness 
of the hour, and as the mother studied the face of the beautiful 
Miss Miller with deep sympathy, it was easy to decide that no 
suspicions of the truth had crossed her mind. 

For a moment the boys forgot their danger. They amused 
themselves by a little quiet flirtation, that at once aroused the 
jealousy of the sister. She had never seen her brother betray such 
a deep interest in a woman before. Henry told his sister that Miss 
Miller possessed a very quick temper, that she was laboring under 
undue excitement, which had followed a quarrel between Miss Miller 
and his driver. 

“Miss Miller did not like his looks, he told her, and we left 


— 13 — 


him back under the bridge. One German less to fight for the 
Kaiser.” 

“Do you mean that she killed him?” inquired the sister, with 
a look of alarm. 

This question so amused Elmer that for the moment he forgot 
the role that he was playing, and restraining his desire to laugh 
outright, he replied in a deep bass voice: 

“Kill him, no; I simply soiled his clothes.” 

His voice had betrayed him. Both boys had decided the joke 
had gone far enough. Elmer removed his wig, and after a good 
laugh all around, Henry disclosed to his mother^ the serious nature 
of their visit. Mother and sister promised to ffarbor Elmer while 
Henry returned to square matters at headquarters, with the bluff 
that his prisoner had eluded him. 

After Henry had taken his departure, Elmer confided to the 
mother his determination to remain in Berlin, and by his art of 
female disguise in some way gain knowledge that would be of 
assistance to his Government. Henry’s sister was about the same 
height as Elmer, a strong, robust, well-developed type. She had 
an extensive wardrobe, and they at once went to planning ways 
and means to help Elmer in the game he was about to play. 


CHAPTER V. 

UNDER DEN LINDEN. 

All the world has heard of this famous garden, always the resort 
of the amusement loving Bohemians of all nationalities. After 
the opening of the war, it became headquarters for diplomats, high 
military officials and all grades of society that sought relief from 
the depression of war in Wine, Woman and Song. One short week 
had elapsed since the adventures described in the previous chapter, 
had been enacted, when we again find Henry in the company of his 
beautiful sister, seated at a secluded table in this famous resort. 
That the reader may thoroughly appreciate the dangerous game that 
Henry was playing we will jot down some of the whispered remarks 
that passed between brother and sister over a table bountifully 
supplied with liquid refreshments. 

“Keep it up, old pal; you’re doing fine.” 

This from Henry to his sister, as he again fills her glass. 

Strange remark from a brother to a sister, who had never been 
known in all her life to indulge in any drink stronger than tea or 
coffee. 

“I’m dying for a smoke. I see most of the other women are 
smoking. Why not I?” 

This from the sister, as she looks about over the gay scenes 
of wild revelry that is going on about her, for Under Den Linden 
was celebrating one of the Kaiser’s bitterest defeats that night, the 
best way to forget was through the wine-cups and through the 
smiles of the sirens. 

“Nix, bo, I brought you here to give you the opportunity to 
strike. This is to be your one golden opportunity and remember 
my sister doesn’t smoke.” 


This remark from Henry will undoubtedly convince the reader 
that the beautiful companion that sat opposite him across the table 
was not his sister at all, but was none other than his old pal Elmer, 
disguised most perfectly in his sister's latest creation from Paris. 
Elmer was in his glory and a feast for the eye. The thought that 
he must win compelled him to act his role in a daring manner that 
filled Henry with admiration. Henry pointed to a group of dis- 
tinguished looking men, who were seated at a table not far from 
them. It was made up with a mixed class of noblemen in the com- 
pany of three women, members of the opera company. There were 
three German officers and two diplomats in civilian dress. The 
most imposing character among the group was the distinguished 
Major Von Heering, the Kaiser’s best speaker in the Reichstag 
and head of the Kaiser’s Secret Service organization. The Major 
had been drinking freely; his hair was snow white, but he still 
showed a fondness for the society of women and it was not long 
before his eye fell upon Von Bohn’s beautiful companion. This was 
just what Henry had hoped for. He nudged Elmer under the table 
and sister was quick to take the cue. He allowed his wonderful 
eyes to play over the group at the Major’s table, but when they 
encountered the bold stare that the Major had cenlered upon him, 
he lowered his eyes modestly concentrating them on the tip of 
his slipper that tapped the floor with nervous intensity and with a 
timid modest glance at Von Bohn, signalled that something was 
wrong with his garter. During the wild festivities that followed 
in the next few minutes, Elmer carried on a quiet flirtation with 
the old Major, luring him on with the subtle art of a baby vampire. 
As the group at the Major’s table was about to leave, the old Major 
for the first time took note of Elmer’s companion. He knew Von 
Bohn very well. The opportunity that he had looked for had 
arrived. As his party arose to go, he caught Von Bohn’s eye and 
acknowledged the young officer’s salute, with a dignified bow excus- 
ing himself to his party, he crossed to the table and greeted the 
young officer warmly. Henry w r as delighted to meet the Major 
and introduced Elmer as his sister, who had lately arrived from 
Paris. Would the Major condescend to join them? One devouring 
look from the sister’s eyes, and the Major decided that he would. 

“My sister is anxious to serve the Kaiser,” said Henry, coming 
directly to the point. “Why not?” said the old Major, with a 
fatherly look at the beautiful girl before him. 

“The Kaiser is in great need of women with beauty and brains. 
I have an opening for one right now on my staff.” 

“I’m the girl you’re looking for,” said Elmer, striking while the 
iron was hot. Henry discreetly excused himself to ’phone a mes- 
sage to his mother, leaving the Major and Elmer alone. Elmer 
was quick to follow up the advantage he had obtained, and when 
the old Major offered him the position as his private secretary, and 
told him he was off for the seashore on the morrow for a needed 
rest, Elmer squeezed the fat hand that was ever patting and playing 
with his own, and promised on the instant to faithfully serve him 
and the Kaiser until the bitter end. 


fir - ’ 

V ' .i 


- 15 - 


CHAPTER VI. 


Now came the time in America when to whine, to think in terms 
of personal profit, were things that came under the head of “Treason.” 

This was to be a War of self-defence, a War against War. We 
must win, that the end would be swift and sure, it was a time that 
our 110,000,000 people must stand as one. 

In Germany the Kaiser and the Crown Prince were daily closeted 
alone, studying huge War maps that lay before them, the Kaiser 
would point out to the young Prince the movement of his troops 
upon the map, and his hellish plans of ruthless U-boat activities 
upon the seas, all was aggressive activity. The Kaiser’s military 
Generals and Aides reported to him from time to time, and at the 
time when the tide would turn against him, and the Allied forces 
drive the Hun back, the real truth of the disaster would be with- 
held from the press and the common people and to stimulate their 
belief in their Lord and Master. The bells from public buildings 
would toll the joyful tidings of victory, while at that very moment, 
the Kaiser with his German Staff having returned to headquarters, 
after the attack had failed would stand in a silent group with heads 
bowed, as the Kaiser whispered a prayer beseeching the aid of 
the Almighty. 

Far into the night, the German long-range guns would belch 
forth a tongue of flame, as they launched forth their engines of de- 
struction. Even the great cathedral at Rheims was not spared. At 
the church of the Sacred Heart near the firing line, the French 
had mercifully placed the Kaiser’s wounded upon pallets of straw 
that surrounded the high columns of the structure, and they lay at 
the very feet of the statue of the Virgin guarded by a French sentry, 
and attended by the priests. Through the night came the whine of 
a shell. It crashed through the stained-glass windows of the mighty 
structure, and the explosion that followed killed friend and foe alike, 
even the Angels of Mercy were not spared, but by some strange 
miracle the statue of the Virgin was spared. She stood looking 
down with a world of pity upon the scene of destruction below. 

As private secretary to Major Heering, Elmer had accompanied 
the Major and his staff to Baden-Baden, where they were installed 
in magnificent apartments that overlooked the sea. 

For several days now Elmer had been busily engaged upon his 
new duties and slowly gaining the confidence of the unsuspecting 
old Major. The Major found few opportunities to be alone with 
this beautiful woman, who had completely captivated him, as his 
business worries, as Master of the Kaiser’s intrigues had followed 
him to this famous resort where he had hoped for a short respite 
from his duties. 

It was upon a beautiful summer morning that Elmer found 
himself for the first time alone with the Major, in a beautiful rustic 
pagoda that stood isolated among the foliage of the garden and 
commanded a beautiful view of the bathing beach below. Elmer sat 
with dreaming eyes looking far out over the seas in deep thought, 
as the old Major was going over his mail and preparing the work 
for the day, his thoughts had returned to his sweetheart in America. 


— 16 — 


The Major rudely aroused him from his reverie by calling his 
attention to advices that had just reached him in an official looking 
envelope that bore the Kaiser's private seal. The Major showed 
Elmer the photograph of a beautiful girl with wonderful eyes that 
spoke with the slumbering fires of Spanish descent. The Major 
told Elmer the history of this girl who had been queen of the Sul- 
tan’s harem. He impressed Elmer with the fact that this wonderful 
beauty was now in the employment of the Kaiser and that now she 
was mistress of unlimited wealth and had the diplomats of foreign 
countries at her feet. You could outshine this woman, the Major 
told Elmer, you could reach the same lofty position that she now 
occupies in the esteem of our Master. He told Elmer that he had 
arranged to present him to the Crown Prince and that it would then 
be an easy matter to bring about a meeting with the Kaiser himself. 

Elmer was listening with intense interest, he was gaining the in- 
formation that he had risked his very life to gain. He turned the 
picture over, upon the back was scrawled several characters in code 
and the number 364. There was other writing on the back of the 
picture, but Elmer was a master of the German language and he 
made out the caption, “Tigress of the Nile,” now in the U. S. A. 
Elmer turned the picture over again and studied the face of the 
beautiful subject. He could never forget those eyes. This was the 
picture of Madam Storch, but of course at this time Elmer did not 
know it. He only knew that he must in some way gain possession 
of this picture and locate the key number upon the files of secret 
papers that he knew to be stored in the Major’s office in Berlin. 
Returning the photograph to the Major he called the Major’s atten- 
tion to the bathers on the beach. The Major had vainly endeavored 
to persuade Elmer to don a bathing suit and enter the surf with him. 
Elmer had always found some ready excuse. It would be a decided 
call upon his art to avoid detection to appear in the scanty apparel, 
the one-piece suit in which many of the women were now constantly 
appearing. But he had cautiously prepared for just such an emer- 
gency. He had a stunning knock-out bathing gown and robe, should 
he be compelled to use it. 

“I am just dying to see you in one,” whispered the old Major, as 
he moved closer to Elmer. 

Elmer allowed his fingers to play affectionately among the white 
locks on the diplomat’s brow. 

“I fear you’re not strong enough for your bath to-day, dear, the 
cold water may give you a cramp, then what would I do if my dear 
Major should drown?” cooed Elmer lovingly in the old Major’s 
ear. 

But the old Major was persistent, he was feeling remarkably 
strong and spry this morning and he confided his great desire to 
float his beautiful secretary upon the bosom of the briny. 

Elmer finally consented. It was a desperate move, but it might 
gain him the opportunity to steal the photograph which he desired 
after the old Major had disrobed. They separated after the Major had 
lovingly kissed Elmer’s hand and were to meet again upon the 
beach, as soon as preparations could be made for their bath. 


— 17 — 


A short half hour later the attention of the many bathers upon 
the beach was attracted to the most stunning creation of feminine 
loveliness that had ever been exhibited upon those immortal sands. 
Elmer strolled leisurely down the beach indifferent to the admiring 
glances of the multitude. As he waited for the appearance of 
the Major he came upon a lone figure watching on the beach from 
beneath the shadows cast by the hood of a huge parasol protruded 
the strong limbs of a vigorous male, adorned by the regulation drab 
of the Kaiser’s uniform. He was passing modestly with his eyes cast 
down, when a familiar voice reached his ear. 

“Sister! Sister, mine!” 

Turning about and bending low he gave a quick searching glance 
beneath the parasol and beheld the laughing face of his pal, Von Bohn. 
With one glad shout of delight, Elmer plunged beneath the parasol. 
For the moment at least he was lost to the vulgar stare from the 
many bathers who were constantly passing at this point. 

Von Bohn hurriedly told Elmer that he had been awaiting this 
chance to tell him that he had obtained a way of getting communica- 
tions across the firing line. Elmer told Henry of his interview that 
morning with the Major. The boys plotted rapidly and as they 
plotted they were not aware that passing directly behind their parasol 
at the time, was the pompous old Major adorned in a bathing suit, 
the unsuspecting subject of their conversation. The Major was pacing 
nervously back and forth watching and waiting for his charmer. 

Henry told Elmer that he must gain possession of the photograph 
and that he would endeavor to get possession of the files now in 
Berlin that would prove a key to the number on the back of the 
photograph. 

At this very moment Elmer caught sight of the old Major, who 
was testing the water, as it broke upon the beach, with the ends of 
his toes. 

Henry agreed to remain safe under the protection of his parasol 
where he could watch Elmer’s attempt to either float or drown the 
old Major, it was Henry’s desire that Elmer should drown him, but 
Elmer reasoned that the old Major was still very useful to them both. 
With a hurried good-bye to his pal and a promise to see him again 
at the earliest opportunity, Elmer joined the old Major and persuaded 
him that the doctor had given him instruction that it was vitally 
dangerous to his health to wet his head. There could be plenty of 
floating for the Major but Elmer drew the line at a dive and much 
preferred to promenade. But the old Major was persistent and still 
virile and succeeded in drawing Elmer to the surf, where he bounced 
him up and down to the great amusement of those on the beach and 
when Elmer closed his fingers in the Major’s white locks and forced 
the Major’s head under water, Von Bohn from his vantage point be- 
neath the parasol nearly laughed his head off. He concluded that 
Elmer had changed his plans and had decided to end his wild adven- 
ture by deliberate murder, but Elmer was only endearing himself to 
the old Major by his rough and rowdyish ways. 

Suddenly Henry sat bolt upright, the thought had entered his 
mind that he was overlooking a golden opportunity. He hurriedly 


— 18 — 


arose and made for the Bathing Pavilion. If he could find the room 
where the Major had disrobed, he might gain possession of the papers 
left in the pockets of the Major’s clothing. 

Henry soon caught sight of the Major’s bodyguard. Two Secret 
Service officers in plain clothes were guarding one of those German 
contrivances, a rolling bathhouse, which consists of a tiny building 
constructed on wheels that enables the owner to disrobe and don 
his bathing suit at whatever section of the beach that his fancy may 
select. The Major, always a discreet and cautious man, had securely 
locked the door of this bath house behind him and for further safety 
had given the key to the senior officer of his bodyguard that he might 
not by any chance lose the key, this officer had retained the key in 
his hand, slipping the leather loop that was fastened to the stem 
of the key over his wrist. The day was warm, the guard was drowsy, 
and he had thrown himself upon the sand in the shadow of the 
bath house. All these details were quickly noted by Von Bohn as 
he sauntered past. The second guard had wandered some little dis- 
tance down the beach where he could keep his watchful eye upon 
his master, still sporting in the surf with his beautiful secretary. It 
took Von Bohn but a moment to decide on his plan of action. Saun- 
tering close to where the senior officer reclined, he seated himself 
on the sand and as the officer’s head nodded and fell forward upon 
his chest, his hand relaxing liberating the key, Von Bohn with a 
quick and cautious move slipped the leather fastening free of the 
guard’s wrist and the next moment boldly and silently entered the 
bath house. 


CHAPTER VII. 

IN THE COILS OF A SERPENT. 

In New York City just about this time Irene’s brother had been 
detailed by General Nester to watch for spies at a big social gather- 
ing at Armory Hall. Bill Hale had taken his sister. As they rolled up 
before the Armory in their car and alighted, Madam Storch’s limousine 
followed them under the hood. 

Captain Cosgrove was with the Madam and as he assisted her 
to alight from the car he caught sight of Hale. The men were quite 
friendly. As the two parties strolled towards the entrance of the 
Armory, the men exchanged greetings and the ladies were intro- 
duced. 

Madam Storch was immediately impressed with the beauty of the 
young girl. Irene might prove useful to her, she invited her to call. 
Irene promised to do so. 

The following day Irene visited Elmer’s mother at Maplecourt. 
Elmer’s mother had been ill from worry. She had beseeched the 
authorities at Washington for some information regarding her son. 
They could afford her no comfort. Irene tried to divert her mind 
by a glowing account of the beautiful Madam Storch, but when the 
mother learned that Irene was about to visit the home of this woman, 
she showed great alarm and told Irene about a dream she had had 
the night before, in which her son had appeared by her bed side and 


— 19 — 


warned her about a woman who wore a beautiful pearl necklace and 
who answered to the description that tallied to the one Irene had 
given her of Madam Storch. The mother entreated Irene to make 
some excuse and not keep her appointment, that she had a present- 
ment of fear for her safety. Irene promised the mother that she 
would not visit Madam Storch at her home. Irene had a great desire 
to go abroad in the service of her country. There was a faint hope 
in her heart that she might in so doing in some way meet her lover 
in France. The mother listened with interest to Irene’s plans, but 
at the moment they could come to no decision, they must watch and 
wait. Later Irene told of the mother’s warning dream to her brother. 
Bill Hale’s suspicions had not as yet centered upon the wily Madam 
Storch. 

On the beach at Baden-Baden we again find Von Bohn. He had 
succeeded in stealing the papers and photograph that he had found 
in the Major’s bath house, and had retired, locked the door and 
dropped the key beside the hand of the sleeping guard without, as 
he thought, being seen by anyone. But the Secret Service man, who 
had, been watching the Major’s frolics in the water, now turned just 
in time to witness Henry’s retreat down the beach. He knew Von 
Bohn and at once recognized the young officer and later when the 
Major had returned to his bath house and discovered the loss of his 
papers, this man at once communicated his suspicion that Von Bohn 
had taken them. The old Major scoffed at the very thought that 
the brother of his beautiful secretary was guilty of any act of un- 
loyalty to the Kaiser, yet he instructed his agents to at once watch 
Von Bohn’s movements. Von Bohn had succeeded in again meeting 
Elmer. Only a hurried word, as he passed him on his way to the 
bath house after leaving the Major. 

“Make some excuse to the Major and join me at my hotel. Tell 
him your brother is here on a short visit and wishes to take you for 
a ride in his car. I will have something of importance to tell you,” 
whispered Henry. 

Elmer sensed the importance of the engagement and promised 
to meet him at his earliest opportunity. 

One short hour later Henry waiting in his car before the entrance 
of his hotel saw a beautiful young woman in automobile attire ap- 
proaching him hurriedly. It was Elmer, he was soon beside Von 
Bohn in the car and they were off. They did not notice a large 
military car that swung in behind them as they headed off on the 
wide climbing cliff road that leads away from this famous resort. 
There were four Secret Service men in the car that had followed 
Henry. Two of them were the same officers he had twice before 
outwitted, but Henry was now innocent of the danger that threatened 
him. As his powerful car took the slight grade at a wonderful speed 
that threatened to shake off his pursuers, he laughingly told Elmer 
of the lucky chance that had enabled him to steal the Major’s papers. 
It was not until the car had reached the top of the grade and headed 
down the straight turnpike through the forest that Henry became 
aware that he was being pursued. He made several rapid detours 
to prove his suspicions were correct. At the end of a half an hour, 
the car behind still hung on, they evidently were in no hurry to close 


— 20 — 


in upon the game. For safety and as an extra precaution, Henry 
transferred the photograph and the Kaiser’s letter to the keeping 
of Elmer, who secreted them under the folds of his gown. It soon 
became a test of speed, endurance of the cars, and the amount of 
gasoline that they carried. It would be a natural thing for the brother 
to take his sister home to visit the mother. It was a long hazardous 
journey, but Henry decided to attempt it. It soon grew dusk and 
far into the night they raced. Twice as they stopped after some 
rapid detour to replenish the gas, they thought that they had shaken 
off their pursuers, only to find that the two lights far back down 
the road constantly trailed on through the dust. It was bright moon- 
light when they came in sight of Von Bohn’s home. The military 
car was now closing on them rapidly. Henry decided that it would 
be unwise to stop. His only thought was for Elmer’s safety. As 
he approached the entrance gates of his home, he suddenly slowed 
down the machine. Elmer had taken his stand on the running board 
and as the car passed the gate he leaped from the running board, ran 
through the gate and dodged down behind the wall. Henry sped 
on at full speed. The military car passed a moment later. The 
occupants of the car, though they had not seen Elmer’s leap from 
the running board, caught a hurried glimpse of his crouching figure 
as he ran along the garden wall. Their suspicions were instantly 
aroused. The car came to a quick stop. The senior officer detailed 
two men to search the garden, while he and his remaining companion 
continued the pursuit of Von Bohn’s car. While the two officers 
left behind were searching the garden, the senior officer with a mighty 
spurt closed in on Von Bohn’s car and the officer beside him with 
several shots from an automatic shot out one of the rear tires on 
Von Bohn’s car. Von Bohn came to a sudden stop at the side of 
the road, the two officers drew alongside, covered him with their guns, 
and searched him. Again Henry’s quick wit and wonderful courage 
saved him for the time being. Of course no incriminating evidence 
was found upon him and Henry, knowing his military rank and 
standing, turned upon the two officers in a torrent of rage, threaten- 
ing to bring their outrageous treatment of him to the notice of the 
Kaiser himself. The senior officer was none too sure himself that 
the suspicions of the Major’s bodyguard had been correct. He, there- 
fore, allowed Henry to go with many apologizes that he was only 
carrying out orders, but he was not so sure regarding the sister. 
He, therefore, turned his car abruptly about and made back for the 
Von Bohn home. Elmer had succeeded in gaining entrance to the 
house before the two officers who had been left to search the garden 
had closed in upon him. 

Mother and sister had long since retired and the house was in 
darkness. Elmer made his way silently to a room he had previously 
occupied upon the second floor. This room contained a window that 
opened upon the balcony of the front porch. It was part of Elmer’s 
desperate game, born of a love for Von Bohn’s loyalty and friendship 
to divert the officers’ suspicions upon himself, thus enabling Henry 
to escape. He, therefore, instantly switched on the light. The window 
was open and the shade was up. The officers in the garden who had 
now been joined by the senior officer and his companion, who had 
returned with the car, held a hurried consultation in the shrubbery 


— 21 — 


beneath the window, as they watched the shadow of the beautiful 
woman, who had started to disrobe, that was thrown upon the shade 
above. Elmer possessing a born spirit of fun made several theatrical 
poses for the express amusement of the gaping quartette below, then 
all of a sudden, as if for the first time aware of their presence, he 
suddenly extinguished the light, closed the window and drew down 
the shade. Listening in the darkened room above, he heard the senior 
officer’s plans to leave one man on guard while the other three re- 
turned to headquarters, for advices, as to just what move to make next. 
The senior officer was confident that the Major’s beautiful secretary 
had retired for the night. 

Von Bohn’s outburst of indignation and threat had aroused him 
to the serious nature of his commission. He instructed the man that 
he was about to leave on guard to simply watch the house and see 
that the lady made no attempt to leave until he could get further 
advices from headquarters. The guard was stationed beneath the 
window and the three other officers entered the car and sped off in 
the night. Reassured of his safety for the time being and believing 
that Henry had made a safe getaway, Elmer, exhausted from the 
strain of his long dash for freedom, removed his disguise, donned 
his pajamas, and after hiding the papers he had obtained along with 
his automatic beneath his pillow, he retired and lay for a while 
thinking over the many dramatic occurrences of the day. 

Now the man who had been left to watch beneath the window 
was of an ambitious and adventuresome nature, the view he had 
gained through the open window before the light was extinguished 
had excited in him a burning desire to see more of this charming 
creature. Could he make the arrest and prove the guilt of this woman 
all by himself, he would be due for rapid advancement. Thus reason- 
ing in his dull and brutal mind, he waited a sufficient time, as he be- 
lieved, to assure himself that his victim was asleep. He then scaled 
the balcony and forced a silent entrance through the window, groping 
his way to the center of the room, he drew his pistol and holding 
it in readiness for action, he reached overhead and snapped on the 
lights. There over a chair he beheld an assortment of feminine 
apparel, that for the instant absorbed all his attention; yes, he had 
made no mistake, that form laying so still beneath the silk counter- 
pane was none other than the beautiful form of the girl he had 
beheld sporting in the surf a few hours before. A brutal look of lust 
crept over his features as his eyes once more swept over the apparel 
upon the chair and then settled upon the form under the counter- 
pane. Slowly he stretched forth his hand, not as a man would do to 
arrest a thief, but in the manner of a fond caress. As the officer’s 
hand patted Elmer’s shoulder, Elmer, who all the time had been 
awake and wise as to what was going on, pulled the counterpane from 
off his head and sat bolt upright, pistol in hand. So surprised was 
the officer on beholding a stalwart youth in pajamas, instead of 
the woman he sought that for a minute he forgot why he was there. 
Before he could regain his wits, Elmer had dealt him a savage blow 
over the head with the automatic he held in his hand. The officer 
fell unconscious across the bed. Elmer arose deliberately, threw his 
automatic upon the bed beside the silent figure of the officer, 


— 22 — 


stretched himself and yawned, then he went over to the dresser, 
picked up his shaving mug and began to lather his face. His beard 
was beginning to show under the bloom of youth with which he had 
perfected his disguise. As he began to shave he pulled open the 
top drawer and lovingly caressed his beautiful wig that he had de- 
posited there in safety before retiring. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

THE WINGED MESSENGER. 

There was great activity along the front line trenches during 
the early dawn of the day that followed the one in which the dramatic 
instances occurred that have been described in the preceeding chap- 
ter. A short way back of the Allied line where the first gray streaks 
of dawn showed the tongues of flame and the bursts of smoke and 
gas from exploded shells launched by the artillery of the Kaiser’s 
forces upon the distant horizon. An officer of the French Army 
high in command sat upon the back of a beautiful black horse that 
was silhouetted against the black lighting of the horizon. 

The vista of wild desolation that spread away towards the horizon 
only brought out more forcefully the figure of the horse and man 
upon the foreground. Both horse and rider remained perfectly still, 
indifferent to the shells that now and then burst all about them. The 
officer was watching the vanishing point upon the horizon with 
powerful field glasses. Suddenly a tiny speck appeared in the clouds 
of smoke that overhung the horizon. 

Quickly this tiny speck grew in dimensions until the officer, 
through his powerful glasses discovered it to be the object of his 
search, an American warplane that was headed directly toward him, 
coming from over the German lines. In the middle distance it 
dropped low and skimming directly along the ground it alighted and 
rolled along the ground to within a few feet of where the officer 
stood. An American Ace, bearing the medals of distinguished honor 
upon his breast, alighted, saluted the officer who sat upon the horse 
and delivered him a package that he took from his leather coat. 
Without a word he turned and sprang again into his seat and was 
off circling about and returning in the direction from which he had 
come. The officer broke open the envelope and the first thing that 
attracted his eye was the photograph of a beautiful girl. It was the 
picture of Madam Storch that the old Major had shown Elmer only 
a little over twenty-four hours before. The Allies had found a match 
for the Kaiser’s spies. 


CHAPTER IX. 

AMERICA’S GRATITUDE. 

It was a beautiful afternoon in the early autumn, when several 
weeks later, we again find Mrs. Perry seated upon the porch at her 
home at Maplecourt in the company of Irene. From the tall white 
flag-pole that adorned the lawn. Old Glory was fluttering in a gentle 
breeze that swept up the Hudson. The two women were knitting 
sweaters for the soldiers, as they talked. Irene appeared to be labor- 


— 23 — 


ing under suppressed excitement, but she was in high spirits this 
morning and she laughed and chattered with her mother more like 
her old self than she had appeared in many months. She was eagerly 
watching for someone. Now and again she would arise and walk 
to the head of the stairway and look down the long drive that wound 
through the big stone gates and along the river front. 

“Who are you watching for?” the mother asked. 

“My heart tells me we are going to receive some joyful tidings 
to-day ” 

“Wait, just wait, and be patient,” Irene answered. 

Then after throwing her arms about the little mother and kissing 
her impulsively, she would reseat herself, but as her busy fingers 
plied the needles, her eyes were constantly raising from her work 
to search the long drive. It was very evident that she was with- 
holding some encouraging news from the mother, and that she was 
laboring under great effort to retain her secret. Her actions were 
soon explained when a powerful touring car turned in at the gates 
and rolled up the drive stopping before the entrance. The first 
person to alight was Bill Hale, his face wreathed in smiles; he was 
bearing a huge Service Flag with one star in its center, he rushed 
up the steps to greet his sister, as General Nester and several other 
officers of high military rank in uniform alighted from the car, and 
at a signal from Bill ascended the steps, and were presented to the 
little mother, who had come forward to meet them, with a half- 
frightened puzzled look upon her white face. 

“I have brought you joyful news,” General Nester said with 
military abruptness. “We have at last received reports that assures 
us of your son’s safety. I am not at liberty to divulge the nature 
of these reports, at present. I can only assure you that your son 
is safe and is serving the American Government abroad with a bold- 
ness and bravery that will gain for him the highest military honors 
that can be given to one who has risked his life to serve his 
country.” 

While General Nester and his staff pressed eagerly about the 
little mother, and each one clasped her trembling hand, as they 
congratulated her and paid glowing tribute to the last of the fighting 
Perrys, Irene had followed her brother down the lawn where he 
had loosened the halyards that supported Old Glory and as the group 
on the porch turned to watch him, he quickly lowered the flag, and as 
Irene caught it in her arms kissed it, and was ever careful that it’s 
folds should not touch the ground, her brother quickly adjusted the 
Service Flag and as the group on the porch uncovered, he shot 
the two flags rapidly back to their position at the top of the staff. 
Vainly did the little mother seek further information regarding the 
nature of her son’s duties abroad, and a more detailed account of 
how the news had reached America. Her only satisfaction was the 
repeated assurance that her son was safe and well and that she 
would hear from him direct. 

General Nester and his staff including Bill Hale soon re-entered 
the touring car, leaving Irene with the mother shouting their thanks 
and waving farewell, the car sped back to General Nester’s office, 
where he had an appointment of the greatest importance with Captain 


— 24 — 


Cosgrove. Upon reaching his office, General Nester found Cosgrove 
awaiting him. The young Captain had been very prompt and zealous 
with his duties of late, yet he still found time to carry on his flirta- 
tions with Madam Storch. 

General Nester dismissed his staff and taking Bill Hale aside 
whispered a few hurried directions and handed Hale a letter of 
introduction to the President of a bank on Fifth Avenue. Hale took 
his departure, and the General locked the door after him and turned 
upon Cosgrove a stern searching gaze as he began to question him 
about his acquaintance with Madam Storch. Cosgrove, thoroughly 
innocent of any intention of unloyalty, confided in the old General 
all he knew regarding this beautiful woman who had infatuated him. 
When Cosgrove had finished the old General with true military 
abruptness told him, “We have positive proofs that this woman is 
an agent of the Kaiser’s. Your intimate relations with her has placed 
you in a most dangerous position, you have laid yourself liable to 
Court Martial. If you can prove your innocence and your loyalty 
you still have a chance to redeem yourself by aiding the Secret 
Service in rounding up this woman and her numerous confederates.” 
The young Captain was stricken dumb with remorse and fear. Gen- 
eral Nester reassured him with a statement that he believed in his 
innocence and would stand behind him in the ordeal to come. 

By this time, Bill Hale had reached the Fifth Avenue Bank. It 
was a few moments before the closing hour. Hale and the bank 
President sat in his private office in earnest conversation. The Secret 
Service had obtained information that Madam Storch had a large 
amount of money deposited in this Bank. From where Hale sat talk- 
ing with the President, his view of the Bank proper was partly 
obscured, through a partly opened door in the private office, he could 
just see the interior of the paying teller’s window. He suddenly 
ceased talking and eagerly leaned forward. The face of a beautiful 
woman was pressed against the brass bars of the window, as she 
smilingly conversed with the paying teller of the bank, who was 
not in range of Hale’s vision. But he could see the white hands of 
the paying teller, as he counted out a huge stack of bank notes of 
large denomination, and shoved them through the window to the lady 
on the outside. As the lady’s jeweled hands reached forth to obtain 
the bills and bestow them in her hand-bag, he noted the gleam of 
a beautiful pearl necklace under the high collar of the rich auto coat 
that she wore. Hale reached hurriedly into his inside pocket and 
extracted a photograph. He studied it keenly for a moment, compar- 
ing the face in the photograph with the face of the smiling woman who 
was still talking through the wicket to the paying teller. The photo- 
graph in Bill’s hands was the photograph that Elmer and Von Bohn 
had stolen from Major Heering. 

Yes! there was no doubt in Bill Hale’s mind. The woman at the 
wicket and the subject of this photograph were one and the same 
person. “Madam Storch,” “Tigress of the Nile.” A most charming 
creation in the flesh, the Kaiser’s spy, stood almost within his grasp, 
yet he dare not arrest her. Bill studied every line of her beautiful 
features as her hand closed upon the bank notes, and she drew them 
out from under the wicket, those features seemed to change, and in 


— 25 — 


her place Bill imagined he saw the fierce eyes and snarling mouth 
of a beautiful tigress. It’s fierce claw extended through the bars 
of its cage, clutching at a piece of raw beef that a keeper thrust 
through the bars of the cage. Bill sprang to his feet. The illusion 
of his brain had been dispelled by the hurried departure of Madam 
Storch. With a hurried excuse to the President of the Bank, he 
hurried out just in time to see Madam Storch descend the steps and 
enter her limousine. As her car rolled away down Fifth Avenue, 
Bill sprang into his car and followed. 

CHAPTER X. 

HOBNOBBING WITH ROYALTY. 

Major Heering’s mad infatuation for Von Bohn’s sister blinded 
him to any suspicion that the Secret Service officers had tried to 
arouse in him. It was an easy matter for Von Bohn, through General 
Blutcher to square matters at headquarters. There were now two of 
the Kaiser’s agents, who had crossed the path of Elmer during the 
period of his gay masquerading, who were now among the missing, 
and several more including the Major’s bodyguard had been threat- 
ened with dismissal. 

Elmer had reached the height of his gloty. He was this very 
day to be introduced to the Crown Prince by Major Heering, the 
meeting was to take place in an ante-chamber in the Kaiser’s palace. 
There had been many weary months of war and months had grown 
to years since Elmer had entered his country’s service, as one of the 
American government’s most valuable agents of the Secret Service. 
His position as secretary to the old Major gave him the opportunity 
to constantly supply the knowledge to the Allied forces of the 
Kaiser’s troops. It was through Von Bohn’s aid that this had been 
made possible by the aid of the mysterious winged messenger. The 
American forces had grown to a formidable army, who under the 
able direction of General Foch had slowly but surely enveloped the 
Kaiser’s troops on the Western front, defeated the Crown Prince’s 
army, and had driven the remaining forces back to the very banks 
of the Rhine. Famine threatened the population of Berlin and the 
German people were clamoring for peace. The Kaiser and the Crown 
Prince had quarrelled and the young Prince had become a reckless 
gambler and profligate. The Prince had caught sight of the Major’s 
beautiful secretary upon one of the Major’s visits to headquarters 
and had expressed a desire to meet the lady. 

Elmer dressed with great care for the occasion. The Prince was 
to give a dinner that evening to a number of his officers, who were 
trying to rally their demoralized forces into some sort of a for- 
midable army to defeat the threatened invasion of the American 
forces across the Rhine. 

Major Heering escorted his secretary to the palace. The Prince 
was still in the midst of his dinner, and Elmer was conducted to a 
secluded ante-chamber. The old Major gave Elmer his final instruc- 
tions regarding proper conduct towards the Prince, in other words. 


— 26 — 


the old Major was jealous. The Crown Prince had informed him 
that he must see the lady alone, as he had a very important and 
dangerous mission that he wished her to perform for him. Elmer 
was left alone in the ante-chamber while the Major went personally 
to round up the tardy Prince. The heir to the throne had been drink- 
ing freely and was loathe to leave the dinner, where his generals 
repeatedly toasted him, and called for a speech. 

The Prnice had arose for about the third time to speak, when 
Major Heering was shown in. His tongue was getting thick and he 
was glad of the interruption. The Prince excused himself and 
accompanied Major Heering to the ante-chamber, where after in- 
troducing the Prince to Elmer, the Major made some excuse and 
withdrew. 

The Prince was very gracious and quite democratic in his first 
greetings to Elmer. He rang for his servants and insisted the lady 
should partake of refreshments. She must toast him with the Kaiser’s 
own wine. He told her he had just learned that her mother was 
an American woman. That this fact was only in her favor, as it 
only aided in the plans he had formed to make her the head of 
the Kaiser’s spy system in America. After the liveried servants 
had served the wine that he had ordered and taken their departure, 
the Prince toasted Elmer. 

“Here’s to the most beautiful woman in the Kaiser’s service,” 
he said, and compelled Elmer to sip from his his own glass, as he 
began to talk in a boisterous manner how he intended to drive the 
Yankees back across the sea. 

“The German people want peace,” he said. 

“They have a poor way of knowing how to gain it; they have 
turned against the Kaiser in the very hour of peril, but I mean to 
stand shoulder to shoulder with my father and fight on until the 
bitter end.” 

“Will Madam risk her life to serve me,” he inquired. 

His tongue was again getting thick. Elmer replied that he was 
not a Madam, as yet, but he would gladly die a hundred deaths to 
gain the young Prince’s favor. 

In an impulsive burst of gratitude, the young Prince threw his 
arm about Elmer, and kissed him in a very affectionate manner. 
He then dropped into a seat at the opposite side of the table and 
began to divulge his hellish plans to lure the American forces by the 
aid of a flag of truce into a trap laid for them along the banks of 
the Rhine. As he plotted, the Prince kept emphasizing his remarks 
by forcefully slapping Elmer’s leg. Closer and closer the Prince 
drew his chair and his caresses beneath the table became more 
and more affectionate. Each time the Prince’s hand rested upon 
Elmer’s knee, Elmer would double his fist up under the table. He 
didn’t mind the Prince’s jab in the legs so much, as he did the 
sudden pause in the Prince’s plot to annihilate the Yankees, which 
gave the Prince a new lease of breath with which to warn him 
against the Yankees. 

“A woman of your beauty would be in grave danger,” he said, 
should those brutal Yankees succeed in crossing the Rhine. The 
first thing they would do would be to carry you off to some 
officer’s camp. 


— 27 — 


Again Elmer felt an impressive grip upon his leg, enclosing his 
fist again beneath the table, he smiled his sweetest smile at the 
Prince, as he said: 

“I'm just dying for someone to carry me off, the old Major is 
so lacking in sentiment A girl has little time for wooing during 
these terrible hours of ceaseless strife.” 

The Prince consoled him with another loving, lingering caress 
with his hand. Elmer suddenly raised to his feet, his eyes blazing 
and his face transformed to hate. His right arm shot out, and his 
knotted fist dealt the Crown Prince a terrific blow on the point 
of his chin. The heir to the throne crashed backwards, wrecking 
his chair. As the Prince slowly regained his feet Elmer could hardly 
restrain a smile, as he beheld the look of first amazement then 
anger upon the face of the Prince. With a curse the Prince drew 
his sword and attempted to run Elmer through. With a quick 
movement Elmer side-stepped, and the two clinched. 

Elmer succeeded in gaining the Prince’s sword, and, freeing 
himself, he broke the sword across his knee. The young Prince 
was at him again, striking right and left, showing that he was no 
rank amateur at the boxing game. It now became a fierce struggle 
all over the room. In his many mad lunges, the Prince succeeded 
in tearing Elmer’s superb gown from his neck and shoulders. Elmer 
clinched with the Prince and forced him back over the table. The 
Prince reached up with his right hand and fastened a secure grip into 
the crowning coils of Elmer’s wig. At this moment, the door flew 
open, and several members of the Prince’s bodyguard who had 
been attracted by the noise of the battle, entered the room, Elmer 
swung the Prince free from the table and hurled him across the room, 
but the Prince had retained his grip on the wig, and as he landed 
against the wall of the room he took the wig with him. The guard 
closed in on Elmer and held him securely, as the Prince came 
forward wig in hand, and accused Elmer in a torrent of rage. 

“He is a spy,” the Prince shouted. 

“He tried to murder me. Drag him to the courtyard and have 
him shot.” 

Elmer stood facing the Prince in defiance. 

He knew full well that there was not one chance in a million 
for his life. 

His work had been accomplished so when the Prince continued 
to question him in a torrent of rage, he decided that he would tell 
the truth. 

“Who are you, man, woman, or devil,” ? Demanded the Prince. 

“I am an American, replied Elmar. Every movement of your 
troops, every weak spot on your line, that I have learned through 
my close association as secretary to Major Heering is now in the 
hands of the Allied generals.” 

The alarm by this time had spread to the banquet room and the 
German officers present had rushed to the support of the Prince. 
Gaining the full significant meaning of Elmer’s words, the Prince 
ordered him dragged into the courtyard, where he was followed 
and surrounded by an angry mob. The Prince and his officers held 
a hurried consultation, as the guards who had seized Elmer led 


— 28 — 


him to the wall of the courtyard, where they turned him about and 
stood waiting the orders of the Prince. Elmer knew that his hour 
had come, that they would shoot him even without the formality of 
a court-martial, yet he stood boldly erect, his head proudly raised, 
his face turned to the East, where the first golden streaks of the rising 
sun appeared on the horizon over the walls of the courtyard. 
Thoughts of his mother and his boyhood and of the sweet faced 
girl that would watch and wait for his return in vain passed rapidly 
through his mind. His hand went slowly to his breast, where be- 
neath his gown reposed Irene's precious gift, the tiny silk American 
flag. 

Twelve of the Prince’s soldiers had been drawn up in a firing 
squad in front of Elmer, the Prince stepped forward, surrounded 
by his officers. He ordered the guard that still surrounded Elmer 
to stand back, then he questioned Elmer trying to get him to im- 
plicate some confederate. 

“I alone am responsible for my action,” replied Elmer calmly. 

“I have but one life to give and that life I will gladly give for 
my country, America.” 

Slowly Elmer exposed his breast and revealed in all its beauty 
the little silk American flag. As the Prince issued a quick order 
and the twelve German soldiers raised their rifles as one, and 
centered their aim upon this little emblem of freedom, the Stars and 
Stripes of America, there flashed across Elmer’s mind a vision of 
Irene’s smiling face, and in his ears rang the firm sweet voice of 
the girl as if beside him now, repeating the last words she had ever 
spoken to him, “Don’t forget your country or your flag.” 

“Blindfold him,” came the sharp order of the Prince. As the 
guards started forward to carry out the command, Elmer waved 
them aside and placing a steady hand upon the folds of the flag, as 
if to still protect it, he faced the guns and calmly said: 

“I am ready.” 

Twelve shots rang out as one. The blood of a hero mingled 
with the tears of his loved one, on that Emblem of Freedom, for 
which he had laid down his life. As Elmer’s body sank forward, a 
smile still lingered upon his face, in death the spirit of love and 
bravery remained with him. 

CHAPTER XI. 

Captain Gosgrove in America, acting through the advices of 
General Nester, and working in conjunction with Bill Hale, aided 
by advices supplied the American Government through Elmer’s 
intrigues in Germany, had redeemed himself by rounding up evidence 
that now warranted the arrest of Madam Storch. 

To ail appearances he had still remained a lover, but the scales 
had fallen from his eyes and slowly he had gained her confidence 
until the situation between them had changed. 

Madam Storch was the dupe. In her secret heart she may 
have loved this man, as far as a woman of her class is capable of 
loving any man. 


— 29 — 


On the same morning of Elmer’s execution, she was awaiting 
Cosgrove in her home on Riverside Drive. She was dressed for 
travelling and all about her were signs of a hurried departure. The 
servants and her faithful maid were busy with her personal baggage 
when Cosgrove arrived. She had sent him upon an important errand 
regarding her passport. 

When the gallant Captain calmly faced her and ordered her to be 
seated, telling her there was to be no passport, she sank into a 
chair and studied his face with a look of amazement. “I have come 
to place you under arrest,” calmly said Cosgrove, as he signalled for 
Hale and the Secret Service men who were waiting outside. For 
the moment Madam Storch believed him joking, but as she caught 
sight of the stern faces of the officers as they entered, her face 
turned deathly white, and into her features came a deadly look of 
hate for this handsome officer who had betrayed her. She was 
a tigress at bay, just for the moment only, then as she gazed about 
the room and realized that the trap had been sprung, that she was 
a prisoner, she soon regained her composure and with a smile to 
the officer, she said: 

“This is the end.” 

They quickly led her from the house and she was hurried away 
in a military car to the Department of Justice. 

Tins same morning the sun was stealing across the lawns at 
Maplecourt, and kissing the folds of Old Glory and the Service 
Flag that fluttered from their place at the top of the pole. Slowly 
across the lawn came the lone figure of a girl, bent low with grief. 
It was Irene Hale and in her hand, crushed and crumbled, was the 
message that had told of her lover’s end. She paused on her way to 
break the news to Elmer’s mother. As she passed beneath the flags, 
she gazed up at them with her eyes filled with tears. 

On the porch she was met by the servants who told her that 
Mrs. Perry had gone for her morning ride. 

Withholding her errand, the girl calmly replied that she would 
wait. She refused their invitations to enter, and as the servants 
retired, she returned to the flag pole and lowering the flags she re- 
moved the Service Flag and drew Old Glory slowly back up the 
staff until it poised in the breeze at half mast, then she refastened 
the halyards and with the Service Flag returned to the porch, where 
she sank into a porch chair. 

“It will make my task the easier,” she sighed. 

Then from her hand-bag she produced a golden star, and set 
herself about busily removing the red star in it’s circle of white, 
and with trembling fingers sewed in its place the golden star, mute 
tribute of honor, to her loving death. 

So busily was she absorbed in her work that she did not see 
the return of Elmer’s mother down the drive, and the mother had 
alighted from her car and was ascending the steps before Irene was 
aware of her presence. The mother, as yet, had failed to note Old 
Glory at half mast, but her eyes were at once focused upon the 
Service Flag that lay across Irene’s lap. Long she stood there, her 
eyes riveted to the gold star now securely fastened in its place 
on the flag, then slowly she raised her eyes to those of Irene’s. She 


— 30 — 


noted the tears in the girl’s eyes, the world of sympathy that they 
reflected, and that moment the mother knew. It was needless for 
Irene to point to Old Glory as she did. Without one sound, not 
the faintest cry of distress, this noble woman received the blow. 
Slowly she sank upon her knees, throwing her arms about Irene’s 
lap. In respect for their grief we will leave them thus alone to 
unite in a prayer that the immortal words of our holy father, the 
Pope of Rome, “Just so sure as there is a God above us, just so 
sure will the Kaiser be punished for his unpardonable sins,” come 
true. 

It was not long before this prayer was answered. The Yankees 
had driven the Boche back over the Rhine. Von Bohn, forced to 
fight against his will among the demoralized officers of the Kaiser’s 
troops, had been thrown into prison for mercifully aiding an Amer- 
ican soldier, who he had carried wounded and dying safely through 
the firing lines to a sheltered spot, where with an act of mercy he 
could administer water and the last rites to the dying. The starving 
multitudes at Berlin had risen as one person in a mighty revolt. 
The Kaiser found himself surrounded by thousands of maddened 
men and women thirsting for his life. It was a dark, stormy night, 
and the Kaiser’s bodyguard succeeded in getting him safely away 
through a rear passage-way of the palace court and into a huge car 
that was to bear him safely through the forest to an old fort on the 
Rhine, where he would be safe for the time at least. 

None will ever know the thoughts that went through this man’s 
brain, as he sat alone in his car which was madly racing through 
the night, surrounded by a guard on mtoorcycles and heavy armored 
cars in front and back that contained the Crown Prince and several 
of his trusted officers. Now and again a bolt of lightning descended 
from the angry sky and some monarch of the forest would fall with 
a mighty crash, yet the Kaiser heeded it not. In the reasoning of 
his mad brain God was with him still, then came a bolt as straight 
and and sure as an eternal justice itself. It struck the Kaiser’s car, 
and one short instant later all those who had been in the car or 
in its immediate vicinity lay among the smoking debris in the dust 
of the highway, silent in death, all but the Kaiser, he alone showed 
still a sign of life. Slowly he raised his head and shoulders from 
the ground by the aid of his crippled arm. Another vivid flash of 
lightning revealed his face, it was the face of the evil one, in his 
dying agony a strange metromorphise revealed him for the moment, 
as Satan, the evil spirit of the damned. 

Over pontoon bridges all through that long night swept the 
Yankee hordes that had kept on “Over the Rhine,” to complete 
the victory that was to set all men free. 


— 31 — 







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